Psionics and the Mystic

Welcome to Unearthed Arcana, a monthly workshop gauge where we should start and what kind of where D&D R&D shows off a variety of new and approach to psionics in fifth edition will work best. interesting pieces of RPG design for use at your Read on and enjoy. gaming table. You can think of the material presented in this series as similar to the first wave of the fifth edition Psionics playtest. These game mechanics are in draft form, The following rules cover the basics of psionic power, usable in your campaign but not fully tempered by its application, and its relationship to magic. playtests and design iterations. They are highly volatile and might be unstable; if you use them, be What is Psionics? ready to rule on any issues that come up. They’re written in pencil, not ink. Psionics is a source of power that originates from The material presented in Unearthed Arcana will within a creature’s mind, allowing it to augment its range from mechanics that we expect one day to physical abilities and affect the minds of other publish in a supplement to house rules from our home creatures. Psionic abilities are called disciplines, campaigns that we want to share, from core system since each one consists of a set of specific, rigid options to material designed for specific campaign mental exercises needed to place a creature in the settings. Once it’s out there, you can expect us to correct mindset to wield psionic power. check in with you to see how it’s working out and A creature wielding psionic power focuses its what we can do to improve it. concentration on a discipline, and in doing so, manifests a minor psionic effect. Once a creature has concentrated on a discipline, it can then tap into its Introduction reservoir of inner energy to create even greater effects. This month, Unearthed Arcana goes big with a look at The basics of a discipline are always within a the first draft of psionics rules for fifth edition D&D. mystic’s grasp, but the energies needed to create more This article provides a quick overview of how potent effects tap into a limited reservoir of power. psionics works and presents a new class—the mystic. Similar to how the cleric represents a wide variety of Otherworldly Power divine magic users, the mystic encapsulates a variety Not every D&D world features psionic power to the of characters who wield psionic power. same extent. Psionics indirectly originates from the Using the options presented in this article, you can Far Realm, a dimension outside the bounds of the play a mystic to 5th level, following one of two known multiverse. The Far Realm has its own alien psionic orders and training in that order’s unique laws of physics and magic. When its influence disciplines. Following the Order of the Awakened extends to a world, the Far Realm invariably spawns allows you to create a mystic who manipulates the horrific monsters and madness as it bends reality to its minds and awareness of other creatures, and who can own rules. tap into unseen psionic power both in and out of As the laws of reality twist and turn, individual combat. Following the Order of the Immortal allows minds can be awakened to the cosmic underpinnings you to create a mystic who focuses psionic power in that dictate the form and nature of reality. The tumult combat, similar to the battlemind or psychic warrior caused by the Far Realm creates echoes that can of previous editions. Other options for the mystic will disturb and awaken minds that would otherwise appear as the playtest progresses and we gain slumber. Such awakened creatures look upon the valuable feedback about the class’s mechanics in play. world in the same way that creatures existing in three As usual, you can expect a survey asking for dimensions might look upon a two-dimensional realm. feedback on these draft rules in about a month or so. They see possibilities, options, and connections that At this point, we’re not necessarily tied to any of are unfathomable to those with a more limited view of these options. This effort is merely a first draft to reality.

©2015 Wizards of the Coast LLC 1 In worlds that are relatively stable and hew close to A mystic’s psi points cannot be reduced below 0. A the archetypal D&D setting presented in the core mystic’s psi point total returns to its maximum after rulebooks, psionics is rare—or might not exist at all. the character finishes a long rest. The cosmic bindings that define the multiverse are strong in such places, making it unlikely that an Psionics and Magic individual mind can perceive the possibilities offered by psionics. Mystics in such worlds might be so Psionics and magic are two distinct forces. In general, scarce that an active mystic never meets another an effect that alters or affects a spell has no effect on living practitioner of the psionic arts. Characters a psionic effect. There is one important exception to might unlock their psionic potential by pure random this rule. A psionic effect that reproduces a spell is chance, and ancient tomes, journals, and other treated as magic. A psionic effect reproduces a spell accounts of mystics might serve as the only guide to when it allows a psionic creature or character to cast a mastering this form of power. spell. In this case, psionic energy taps into magic and Psionics is more common in worlds where the manipulates it to cast the spell. bounds of reality have been twisted and warped to For example, the mind flayer as presented in the stray far from the baseline D&D setting. The realm of Monster Manual has the Innate Spellcasting Athas in the Dark Sun campaign setting is the iconic (Psionics) feature. This feature allows the mind flayer example of a world where psionics is common. The to cast a set of spells using psionic energy. These gods are absent, magic has been twisted into an spells can be countered with dispel magic and similar ecological scourge, and the common threads that bind effects. many worlds of D&D have been sundered. By contrast, the world of Eberron is a setting where the Using a Discipline bounds of reality have been tested but not fully broken. Psionics is not as pervasive in Eberron as in When a mystic uses a discipline, the same basic rules Athas, but the influence of the otherworldly realm of are followed, regardless of the mystic’s level or the Xoriat makes it a known and studied art. discipline’s effects. Disciplines Activation and Concentration A mystic activates a discipline as a bonus action. A psionic discipline is a rigid set of mental exercises. Once a discipline is activated, it remains active as A mystic must devote concentration to a discipline to long as the mystic maintains concentration on it. use it. Psionics is powerful enough that concentration Concentrating on a discipline uses the same rules as alone can create psionic effects, though such effects concentrating on a spell. Among other things, this are subtle or limited. means that a mystic can maintain concentration only Once a mystic learns a discipline, the character on one discipline at a time, and that any effect that knows that discipline until he or she chooses to purge causes a mystic to lose concentration causes the it. A discipline requires exhaustive study and constant discipline to end. Ending concentration on a practice to maintain its use. A mystic masters only a discipline immediately ends all the discipline’s effects, few disciplines at a time. unless the discipline’s description says otherwise. Disciplines have no level. Their effect is instead Once a discipline is active, it remains active as long determined by the psionic energy devoted to them. as a mystic can maintain concentration on the discipline. Certain disciplines have effects that can Psi Points occur before combat starts, so it’s important for those disciplines to be active beforehand. A mystic has an internal reservoir of energy that can be devoted to the disciplines he or she knows, Spending Psi Points allowing those disciplines to create more powerful Each discipline features options that can create effects. This energy is represented by psi points. additional effects if a mystic spends an indicated Each discipline describes additional optional effects a number of psi points. (A discipline option that has an mystic can create with that discipline by spending psi asterisk to indicate the number of psi points that must points.

©2015 Wizards of the Coast LLC 2 be spent on it can be used with a varying number of discipline does not combine with itself if that option psi points, as indicated in the option’s text.) Each is used multiple times. Instead, the most potent option notes specific information about its effect, effect—usually dependent on how many psi points including the action required to use it (if any), its were used to create the effect—applies while the range, and other details. If an option does not state durations of the effects overlap. that it is used as an action, a bonus action, or a Psionics and magic are separate effects, and reaction, using it requires no action. therefore their benefits and drawbacks overlap. A The maximum number of psi points a mystic can psionic effect that reproduces a spell is an exception spend on a single discipline option is based on class to this rule (see “Psionics and Magic,” above, and level. A mystic’s skill increases both the total amount “Combining Magical Effects” in chapter 10, of energy the character can channel and determines “Spellcasting,” of the Player’s Handbook). how much power can be manipulated at once. As a result, a lower-level mystic might not be able to use all the options available for a specific discipline. Mystic A mystic draws upon the power of psionics—the Components energy of the mind—to create powerful effects. Disciplines do not require the components that many spells require. Using a discipline requires no spoken Class Features words, gestures, or materials. The power of psionics As a mystic, you gain the following class features. comes entirely from within the mind. Duration Hit Points Hit Dice: 1d8 per mystic level Each option for a discipline specifies how long its Hit Points at 1st Level: 8 + your Constitution effect lasts. If an option does not specify a duration, modifier its effect lasts until the mystic no longer concentrates Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d8 (or 5) + your on the discipline. Constitution modifier per mystic level after 1st Targets and Areas of Effect Proficiencies Psionic disciplines use the same rules as magic spells Armor: Light armor, medium armor for determining targets and areas of effect. See Weapons: Simple weapons chapter 10, “Spellcasting,” of the Player’s Handbook. Tools: None

Saving Throws and Attack Rolls Saving Throws: Wisdom If a discipline requires a saving throw, it specifies the Skills: Choose two skills from Arcana, History, type of save and the results of a successful or failed Insight, Medicine, Nature, Perception, and Religion saving throw. Some disciplines require the mystic to make an attack roll to determine whether the Equipment discipline’s effect hits the intended target. See You start with the following equipment, in addition to “Psionic Ability,” below, for more information. the equipment granted by your background:

Combining Psionic Effects • (a) a spear or (b) a mace The effects of different psionic disciplines add • (a) leather armor or (b) scale mail together while the durations of those disciplines • (a) a light crossbow and 20 bolts or (b) any simple overlap. Likewise, different options from a single weapon psionic discipline combine if they are active at the • (a) a scholar’s pack or (b) an explorer’s pack same time. However, a specific option from a psionic

The Mystic Proficiency Disciplines Psi Psi Level Bonus Features Known Points Maximum 1st +2 Psionics, Psionic Order, Strength of Mind 1 4 2 2nd +2 2 6 2 3rd +2 Psionic Order feature 2 14 3 4th +2 Ability Score Improvement 2 17 3 5th +3 3 27 5

its other effects, you can end a specific effect as a Psionics bonus action. As a student of psionics, you can master and use psionic disciplines. Psionic Ability Intelligence is your psionic ability for your mystic Disciplines disciplines. Your intellect determines the strength of At 1st level, you know one discipline of your choice. the psionic effects you manifest. In addition, you use You choose disciplines from the list included in your your Intelligence modifier when setting the saving chosen order (see below). You learn additional throw DC for a mystic discipline or when making an disciplines of your choice at higher levels, as shown attack roll with one. in the Disciplines Known column of the Mystic table. Discipline save DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + Psi Points your Intelligence modifier

You gain a pool of psi points based on your mystic level. Your psi point total returns to its maximum Discipline attack modifier = your proficiency bonus after you finish a long rest. + your Intelligence modifier Psi Maximum Psionic Order Though you have access to a potent amount of psionic At 1st level, you choose a psionic order. Each order energy, it takes training and practice to channel that specializes in a specific type of psionic energy. Your energy. You have a maximum number of psi points order allows you to choose from its unique disciplines you can spend to activate a discipline based on your and grants you class features. mystic level, as shown in the Psi Maximum column (Currently, the two orders available for the mystic of the Mystic table. are the Order of the Awakened and the Order of the Immortal. Future orders will include the Order of the Using Disciplines Knife and the Order of the Invisible Hand.) You activate a discipline as a bonus action, and must immediately concentrate on it. If a discipline grants a benefit for concentrating on it, you immediately gain Strength of Mind that benefit. You continue to gain that benefit and can The power of psionics comes from within, and even use the discipline’s optional features as long as you the simplest techniques require a deep mastery and maintain your concentration on the discipline. understanding of how psionic energy can augment While you are concentrating on a discipline, you mind and body. This understanding allows you to can spend psi points to augment the discipline’s effect. alter your defenses to better deal with persistent Each discipline details its optional effects and the threats. type of action (if any) required to spend psi points on After completing a short or long rest, choose one an option. ability score. You gain proficiency in saving throws You can end all effects of a discipline immediately using the chosen ability score. This benefit lasts until by ending concentration on the discipline. If you want you finish your next short or long rest. to end a single effect of a discipline but still maintain

©2015 Wizards of the Coast LLC 4 need to see it. The target uses its Intelligence score in Ability Score Improvement place of its AC against this attack, and gains no When you reach 4th level, you can increase one benefit from cover. You do not have disadvantage on ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase your attack roll if a hostile creature is within 5 feet of two ability scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you. you can’t increase an ability score above 20 using this On a hit, the target takes 1d8 psychic damage. You feature. can increase this damage by spending psi points (up to your psi maximum) before making your attack roll. The attack deals an extra 1d8 psychic damage for Psionic Orders each psi point you spend. Psionics is a mysterious form of power within most game worlds. Secretive cabals study its origins and Psychic Mind applications, while always pushing the boundaries of At 1st level, your mastery of psionic power allows what psionics can achieve. you to tap directly into the minds of others. You can Each psionic order pursues a specific goal for communicate telepathically with any creature you can psionic power. That goal shapes how the members of see within 100 feet of you. You don’t need to share a an order understand psionics and determines the language with a creature for it to understand your disciplines they master. telepathic utterances, and the creature understands you even if it lacks a language. You can allow a Order of the Awakened creature to respond to you telepathically, but it must understand at least one language in order to Mystics dedicated to the Order of the Awakened seek communicate this way. to unlock the full potential of the mind. By transcending the physical, the awakened hope to Object Reading attain a perfect state of being—focused on pure At 3rd level, you can focus your mind to read the intellect and mental energy. psionic imprint left on an object. If you hold an object The awakened are skilled at bending minds and and concentrate on it for 10 minutes, you learn a few unleashing devastating psionic attacks, and are able to basic facts about it. You gain a mental image from the read the secrets of the world through psionic energy. object’s point of view, showing the last creature to Awakened mystics who take to adventuring excel at hold the object, regardless of how long ago it was last unraveling mysteries, solving puzzles, and defeating handled. monsters by turning them into unwilling pawns. You also learn of any events that have occurred You choose disciplines from the awakened within 20 feet of the object within the past 24 hours. disciplines list. (Currently, only three disciplines are The events you perceive unfold from the object’s available for mystics of the Order of the Awakened. perspective. You see and hear such events as if you New disciplines will be added to this list as the were there, but cannot use other senses. playtest progresses.) Additionally, when you use Object Reading on an object, you can choose to embed a psychic sensor Awakened Disciplines within the object. For the next 24 hours, you can use Discipline Overview an action to learn the object’s location relative to you Conquering Mind Alter another creature’s mind (its distance and direction) and to look at the object’s Intellect Fortress Defend yourself with psychic surroundings from its point of view as if you were counterattacks there. Third Eye Perceive what others cannot Mind Thrust Awakened Disciplines At 1st level, you learn a deadly technique for The psionic disciplines you select as a member of the channeling disruptive psychic energy into another Order of the Awakened allow you to manipulate creature’s mind. As an action, you make a ranged awareness—your own and other creatures’—to your attack against a creature within 120 feet of you. You advantage. (Currently, only three disciplines are must be able to perceive the creature, but you do not

©2015 Wizards of the Coast LLC 5 available for mystics of the Order of the Awakened. attacker takes psychic damage equal to half your New disciplines will be added to this list as the mystic level (rounded up). playtest progresses.) Third Eye Conquering Mind Psionic Discipline Psionic Discipline This discipline grants you the ability to open a third By channeling psionic power, you gain the ability to eye within your mind, allowing you to perceive things control other creatures by substituting your will for that others miss. their own. Concentration: While concentrating on this Concentration: While concentrating on this discipline, you have blindsight with a radius of 30 discipline, you have advantage on Charisma checks. feet. Exacting Query (1): As an action, you target a Tremorsense (1): As a bonus action, you gain creature you can see and that you can communicate tremorsense with a radius of 30 feet for 1 minute. with using your Psychic Mind feature. The target Unwavering Eye (1): As a bonus action, you gain makes an Intelligence saving throw. On a failed save, advantage on Wisdom checks for 1 minute. the target truthfully answers one question of your Truesight (5): As a bonus action, you gain choice through the telepathic link of your Psychic truesight with a radius of 30 feet for 1 minute. Mind. On a successful save, the target is unaffected and you cannot use this ability on that creature again Order of the Immortal until you finish a long rest. Occluded Mind (3): As an action, you target a The Order of the Immortal strives to achieve physical creature you can see and that you can communicate perfection by augmenting the body’s natural strength with using your Psychic Mind feature. The target with psionic power. This order’s goal is for its makes an Intelligence saving throw. On a failed save, members to achieve immortality by overcoming the the target believes one statement of your choice for effects of aging through rigorous discipline and the next 5 minutes. The statement can be up to ten psionic perfection. To members of this order, psionic words long, and must describe you or a creature or energy is a tool to augment, control, and perfect the object the target can see. On a successful save, the physical body. target is unaffected and you cannot use this ability on Those immortals who take up the adventuring life that creature again until you finish a long rest. are skilled warriors. Their psionic abilities allow them Broken Will (5): As an action, you target a to shrug off injuries and hazards, while focusing their creature you can see and that you can communicate strength and speed in combat. with using your Psychic Mind feature. The target You choose disciplines from the immortal makes an Intelligence saving throw. On a failed save, disciplines list. (Currently, only three disciplines are you choose the target’s movement and action on its available for mystics of the Order of the Immortal. next turn. On a successful save, the target is New disciplines will be added to this list as the unaffected and you cannot use this ability on that playtest progresses.) creature again until you finish a long rest. Immortal Disciplines Intellect Fortress Discipline Overview Psionic Discipline Celerity Move and act with unmatched speed Iron Durability Boost your defenses You forge an indomitable wall of psionic energy Psionic Weapon Channel psionic energy into a weapon around your mind—one that allows you to launch reflexive counterattacks against your opponents. Durable Mind Concentration: While concentrating on this At 1st level, you gain the ability to maintain your discipline, as a reaction, you can impose disadvantage focus despite injury. Your concentration on a psionic on a ranged attack or a melee attack made against you discipline cannot be ended as a result of taking if you can see your attacker. If the attack hits you, the damage.

©2015 Wizards of the Coast LLC 6 Martial Order you can spend one Hit Die. You roll the die and add At 1st level, you gain proficiency with martial your Constitution modifier to it, then regain hit points weapons and shields. equal to the total. Iron Hide (*): As a reaction when you are attacked, Psionic Regeneration you can spend up to 3 psi points, gaining a +2 bonus to AC for each psi point you spend. You spend these At 3rd level, you learn to use psionic energy to points after learning the attack’s result but before augment and speed up your natural healing abilities. applying its effects. At the end of your turn, if your current hit point total Iron Resistance (5): As an action, you can spend 5 is half or less of your hit point maximum, you regain psi points to gain resistance to acid, cold, fire, lighting, hit points equal to half your mystic level. or thunder damage (your choice). This benefit lasts Immortal Disciplines for 1 hour or until you use this option again. Psionic Weapon The psionic disciplines you select as a member of the Order of the Immortal allow you to hone your Psionic Discipline strength and speed for maximum effectiveness on the You channel psionic energy into a weapon you wield battlefield. (Currently, only three disciplines are (including your unarmed strike), lending devastating available for mystics of the Order of the Immortal. power to your attacks. New disciplines will be added to this list as the Concentration: While concentrating on this playtest progresses.) discipline, you charge one weapon you carry with psionic energy. While you hold the psionic weapon, it Celerity becomes a magic weapon with a +1 bonus to attack Psionic Discipline rolls and damage rolls. If you use this option on a magic weapon, use the weapon’s bonuses or the You channel psionic power into your body, honing discipline’s bonuses, whichever are higher. your reflexes and agility to an incredible degree. In Ethereal Weapon (1): Each time you attack with your eyes, the world seems to slow down while you your psionic weapon, you can spend 1 psi point to continue to move as normal. transform it into pure psionic energy. You do not Concentration: While concentrating on this make your attack roll against the target’s AC. Instead, discipline, your speed increases by 5 feet and you the target makes a Dexterity saving throw against this have advantage on Initiative checks. discipline. On a failed save, the target takes the Rapid Reaction (1): If you are surprised, you can attack’s normal damage and suffers its additional spend 1 psi point to no longer be surprised. effects. On a successful save, the target takes half Seize the Initiative (*): When you roll initiative, damage from the attack but suffers no additional you can spend up to 5 psi points, gaining a +2 bonus effects that would normally be imposed on a hit. to your initiative roll for each psi point spent. Lethal Strike (*): Each time you hit with your Surge of Speed (1): As a bonus action, you can psionic weapon, you can spend up to 5 psi points to spend 1 psi point to increase your speed by 30 feet increase your damage. The attack deals an extra 1d10 until the end of your turn. In addition, you do not damage of the same type dealt by the weapon for each provoke opportunity attacks this turn. psi point you spend. Surge of Action (5): As a bonus action, you can Augmented Weapon (5): You can strengthen the spend 5 psi points and gain an additional action this energy that you have infused into your psionic turn. weapon, increasing its bonus to attack rolls and Iron Durability damage rolls to +3 for 1 minute. Psionic Discipline This discipline grants you unmatched toughness and resilience on the battlefield. Concentration: While concentrating on this discipline, you gain a +1 bonus to AC. As an action,